A study published in JAMA Neurology examined the association between cannabis use and dementia risk. The study indicated that individuals whose cannabis use resulted in an emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization had a greater risk of a dementia diagnosis within five years than individuals with an ED visit or hospitalization for any other reason.
The study included 6 million Canadian adults who were 45 years or older and had no history of dementia. The participants entered the study cohort between 2008 and 2021, and the researchers followed them until 2022.
The researchers analyzed health data provided by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services (ICES) to compare new diagnoses of dementia for individuals with cannabis use that required acute care (defined as an emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization). The participants were compared to three groups: individuals with an all-cause acute care visit, the general population, and individuals with acute care due to alcohol use.
The study showed that 16,275 (0.3%) individuals aged 45 years or older had acute care due to cannabis use. The annual rate of people over 45 with a first-time acute care visit for cannabis use increased over five-fold over the study period, from 353 in 2008 to 2,508 in 2021. Increases were even larger in participants aged 65 years or older.
One finding demonstrated that the risk of dementia in individuals who needed acute care for alcohol was moderately higher than for individuals who required acute care for cannabis consumption.
An increasing number of research studies highlight the link between cannabis use and dementia and point to specific potential mechanisms involved in cannabis use leading to dementia. According to study author Dr. Colleen Webber, “Regular cannabis use might directly increase the risk of dementia through changes in brain structure. It’s also possible that regular cannabis use increases the risk of other established risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, head trauma, and other injuries, and a higher risk for depression and social isolation.” The study provides valuable insights that can inform discussions between healthcare providers and patients about cannabis use and the risk of dementia.
Sources: Eureka News Alert, JAMA Neurology